Trail Maintainers

The Trail Maintainer is a highly valued individual who routinely gives of herself or himself-in terms of personal time, devotion, and commitment.

District Managers are PATC members appointed by the PATC Supervisor of Trails who recruit, train, and support the members who volunteer and maintain assigned sections of club-maintained public hiking trails.

The Shenandoah National Park requires that all who volunteer to work on public hiking trails within the Park assigned to the PATC are members of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Additionally, all persons who volunteer to work on trail projects withing the Park, whether PATC members or not, are required to sign and submit the Volunteer Service Agreement.

Trail maintainers dedicate themselves to travel—at personal, non-recompensed expense—to monitor and maintain their sections of trail. The overseer also purchases her or his personal equipment and food for the privilege of working on the trail.

It is a privilege, indeed, to take “ownership” of a trail section. The overseer learns every linear inch of the section he or she maintains. Every dip and swale means something; each view point or overview fills the heart and soul.

Hey, we’re gonna sweat, anyway; why not sweat for a purpose that is greater than self?